HSM-37 Rescues Stranded Fishermen

From U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs

Posted March 11, 2016

In this file photo, a naval air crewman watches out the door of an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter attached to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 37 as they conducted flight training operations over the island of Molokai, Hawaii, March 8. (U.S. Navy/MCC John M. Hageman)

SAN DIEGO - Sailors from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 37, the Easyriders, rescued three stranded fishermen approximately 140 nautical miles southwest of Kona, Hawaii, March 11 at about 2:30 a.m. (HST).

Joint Rescue Coordination Center Hawaii received two Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) alerts from Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) on board the 41-foot commercial fishing vessel Vicious Cycle and dispatched an MH-60R helicopter from HSM-37, based at Kaneohe Bay, to assist.

The Coast Guard also launched an HC-130 Hercules aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point. The Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley (WMEC 39) and a fishing vessel operating in the vicinity were also diverted to assist.

The fishermen were found in a life raft adrift. The HSM-37 aircrew hoisted them aboard the helicopter and transported them to Kalaeloa Airport where they were then taken to Queen's Medical Center for evaluation.

HSM-37 is the only helicopter maritime strike squadron in the Middle Pacific (MIDPAC) region and provides a variety of helicopter services to MIDPAC-based combatant ships and submarines in addition to deploying operational detachments. HSM-37 detachments support all Pearl Harbor-based Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.

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